//------------------------------// // The Chosen One of Understanding // Story: Pokémon: Adventures of Equestria- Volume I: How It All Began // by MiraculousDragonMaster //------------------------------// Pokémon: Adventures in Equestria Volume I: How It All Began Chapter 8 The Chosen One of Understanding Luna soon found herself on the outskirts of a quaint little town in the northwestern part of Equestria. All around her was dry and barren land, with hardly any trees for miles around. It was similar to the rock farm she was at earlier, but this part of the region was more mountainous. The Princess of the Moon recalled Alakazam back into his Dusk Ball and then took out the green geode from her cloak pocket. It was blinking on and off. When she held it out to the village in the distance, the glowing got slightly brighter and more continuous. Luna put the geode back in her cloak pocket and started her way down to the village. But, she knew that she would definitely attract attention from the people living there, so she chose to circle around the backs of the buildings to see if she could find this Chosen One. One of the larger buildings in this little and remote town was an orphanage; Snowy Mountainside Children’s Orphanage to be exact. It was the only orphanage for miles around, so there were quite a number of children living in the building, about 25 children. Most visitors that would come to the village would come because of the orphanage and who are willing to adopt one of the children. Especially when it's around Hearth's Warming Eve. Being it as a time to get together with family, most caring folks would adopt to give a child that chance to either experience it for the first time, or to re-experience it for the first time in a long while.  One of the orphaned children in particular was leaning out her bedroom window, looking out towards the small, sleepy town with a sad look on her face. The holiday was almost over, and no one has come to adopt her. She was about 10 years old, with pale purplish-pink skin, indigo eyes, and curly bright violet hair with aqua blue highlights tied up in two short ponytails on her head. She wore a dark purple shirt underneath a gray winter pea coat, a black skirt with dark teal diagonal stripes, black snow boots with purple leggings, and a light gray scarf around her neck. Starlight Glimmer sighed sadly. Who was she kidding? No one would ever choose her to be a part of their family. She has lived in Snowy Mountainside ever since she can remember. She was found by some of the villagers on the far outskirts of town when she was a baby, wrapped in a lilac blanket with her name stitched in aqua thread in a basket. And Starlight had remained in Snowy Mountainside ever since. At least she was happy that some of the children that also lived at the orphanage got to spend Hearth's Warming with their new families, including her best friend. He eventually would be heading to Canterlot to live with his new family. Unlike her. Though Starlight was disappointed that she would have to wait yet another day for someone who might want to adopt her, she always believed that her real family was out there somewhere, looking or waiting for her. Whoever gave her that knitted blanket must have loved her so much. And not only that, she was also found with a black watch that was obviously too big for her at the time. On the center of the watch was a signature purple star, and engraved in silver on the right side of it were the words, "For our little twinkling star." Starlight went over to her old bedroom drawer and pulled out that very same watch that had been found with her to look at the loving inscription once again. She smiled softly at it as she held it tightly in her hand. She then placed it back inside and started to head outside for one more breath of fresh air before bedtime. Some of the Chansey that would help with the children watched her leave out towards the back door. It was obvious that Starlight was one of the favorite kids among the Chansey. And Starlight didn't mind the attention she received from the Pokémon. In fact, that was one of the few things that the orphaned girl loved about being in Snowy Mountainside. The caretakers were nice and kind, but Starlight preferred the Chansey. Seeing that Starlight loved being with Pokémon, and that she was actually quite smart and very talented with them, the caretakers had asked her if she wanted to apply for the Pokémon School in Ponyville. Starlight, of course, was delighted. She would be sharing a place with another girl, but Starlight didn't mind. She would not only get to leave and explore the world as a Trainer, but she might find her family. And also, she would accomplish her dream of becoming a Top Coordinator like one of her heroes, Twilight Velvet. Soon, Starlight was walking around aimlessly around the large and barren backyard of the orphanage, feeling snow gently fall down from the dark cloudy sky and onto the ground. Starlight now had a bright smile on her face as she recalled when she got the acceptance letter from the school, saying that she could come to the school for the spring semester. She was now getting one step closer to not only accomplishing her dream, but to also find her family. Feeling that sense of excitement and happiness starting to swell up deep inside of her soul, Starlight then began to sing as the white snow that fell started to swirl around in the soft breeze as she looked out towards the sleeping town. Starlight Glimmer: Heart, don't fail me now. Courage, don't desert me. Don't turn back, now that we're here. People always say Life is full of choices. No one ever mentions fear Or how the world can seem so vast On a journey to the past. As she was singing, a boy her age was walking around the property, looking around the town before he would leave it forever. He had orange skin, cyan aqua eyes, and short vermilion hair. He wore a dark red shirt under a black winter jacket, dark blue jeans, and dark gray snow boots. The boy soon saw his best friend, Starlight Glimmer, dancing around in the snow, singing her heart out. A sad smile came on his face. He too was disappointed that his friend still hasn't found a family yet, and he had at first wanted to stay with her until they both found families of their own. But, Starlight had insisted that he'd go. "At least one of us would have what we wanted." She had said to him. And she was right. Not only did he now have a new father and mother, but he also now has a sister that was about the same age as him. He was happy that he knew that at least one of them had gotten their Hearth's Warming wish. Somewhere down this road, I know someone's waiting Years of dreams just can't be wrong. Arms will open wide. I'll be safe and wanted, Finally home where I belong. Well, starting now, I'm learning fast On this journey to the past. Yet, the boy couldn't help but admire his friend as Starlight still sung out. She was so determined to find her family, who he was positively sure that she was not abandoned on purpose. Unlike Starlight and her mysterious arrival into Snowy Mountainside, his biological parents had died in a fire, sacrificing themselves to save him. Maybe something similar happened to Starlight. Maybe she was accidently left behind because her family wanted to protect her. Home, love, family. There was once a time I must've had them too. Home, love, family. I will never be complete Until I find you. One step at a time. One hope, then another. Who knows where this road may go? Back to who I was. On to find my future. Things my heart still needs to know. Yes, let this be a sign. Let this road be mine. Let it lead me to my past And bring me home at last! When Starlight finished singing her song, she saw something green glowing in the snow. She slowly went up to it and crouched down to see what it was. It was a beautiful turquoise green geode, sparkling brightly in the white powder. Curious, Starlight carefully reached her hand out to it, the geode glowing brighter as she did so. When her fingers wrapped around it, a bright pulse of light shot out across the ground, hitting her and the boy who was watching her. When the light faded away, Starlight opened her eyes and her palm and saw that the green geode had turned into a light purple necklace on the inside with her signature star and glimmer symbol engraved on it in green. It then tied itself around her neck, underneath her scarf. Fingering the surface of it, Starlight stood up and headed back inside to get ready for bed. When she did so, the boy watched her enter the building with curious eyes. What just happened? "Sunburst!" A male adult voice called out in the distance. The boy, now known as Sunburst, turned around and saw a man with amber yellow skin, flaming red and yellow hair, and cyan eyes dressed warmly and waving over to him. Sunburst left the premises of the orphanage and headed over to his new foster father. Watching from a hill near the orphanage, Luna smiled softly. Understanding may be a bit vague, but it does have a big impact on people's lives. By knowing what people might be going through, and need someone to talk with, being understanding can lift them up significantly. Luna then called out Alakazam from his Dusk Ball one last time. "Let's go home." She said. "Teleport." The Psychic type complied once again to his Trainer's wishes. In a flash of brightly colored rainbow light, he and Luna vanished into thin air. When they materialized again, they were back in Canterlot Castle, just as Celestia and Gardevoir appeared. "Have you finished your search, sister?" Luna asked her older sister. "Yes." Celestia answered. "And I trust you have done the same." Luna nodded. "When do you think they will be ready?" She asked. Celestia shook her head. "I'm not sure." She said. "All that the prophecy says is that when they start on their journey, that is when their true powers will start to emerge. But, if there are side effects, they might come sooner or later." Luna thought about that. "Well, very soon, they will at least have each other to help one another through it." Celestia nodded slowly. "You are right about that, sister." She said. "Let's just hope that they all are strong enough for the battles they will have ahead of them when the time comes."